Our Savior and King, Jesus Christ paid a very high price that we might truly know of His great love and understand His character. The Bible tells us that He came to Earth that He might dwell among us. "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." Exodus 25:8. It is hard to understand how rebellious Israel could not appreciate His presence with them in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. They were ignorant of His character after being released from slavery in Egypt. They had not been making sacrifices that pointed to the grace of God. It was necessary for God to dwell amongst them that they might know of His love and care for them. We know the end of the story only two adults of the six hundred thousand mighty men of war, besides women and children, entered the promised land. Yet, God did not forsake His chosen people, He bore with them for almost 2,000 years before cutting them off as a nation.

Not all were rebels. Moses, who with the exception of his one great sin had been faithful, yet even he was not allowed into the promised land.

Moses had suffered greatly

It would have left an impression upon the people whom he had led, that sin was not as he had taught. He must suffer the consequence of his failure even though his repentance had been quick and very deep. Moses had suffered greatly since choosing to align himself with Israel and give up a life of pleasure and greatness as a ruler in Egypt. We do not hear one word of complaint until at the end of his life when he took his eyes off of Jesus and manifested pride and anger at those who in the past he had pleaded with God to blot his name out of the Book of Life rather then destroy Israel. Up until then, he had been faithful. "My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house." Numbers 12:7.

It is true that the Bible reveals not only the good character of the faithful, but also reveals where even among his faithful has been a failure to give honor and glory to God. We are not to judge one's character on an occasional good or evil deed, but the trend of the life. Yet, because of the high position of Moses, he represented God to His people, he was laid to rest in order to protect the character of God which is both mercy and justice. It was to protect the teachings of Moses that kept God from translating Moses even after his deep repentance. We know that he could have been translated because within three days from taking his life, He raised him from the grave and took him to heaven.
 

Job... a perfect and an upright man

 

Did God not know what was going to happen to Job when he said that? Of course He knew. Then why did He say this when he knew the evil that would consume Job and his family?  God measures a trial for us each day. For all who abide in Jesus it will be for their good and it will bring glory to God. Has He not promised that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear? He certainly has. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Cor. 10:13.

We can understand that God allowed this tribulation to come to Job for his good and God's glory as long as Job remained fully surrendered to God. And, if he does not remain vitally connected to Christ, then the trial will reveal to Job that he, like Moses, hurt God and His work to save man by misrepresenting Him. When we think we are safe from sin, we have forgotten that we need to cling to Jesus continually, for He is our only protection from sin. Without a vital connection with God, we will be left to our own sinful fallen nature. Yes, God knew what Satan would want to do, but Satan is not a liberty to do whatever he wants to those who love God supremely, or even those who do not, but have not exhausted their probationary time. We see this very clearly in what Satan then says to God about Job and how God responds.

Job was soon to find his life turned upside down and that he was in the "crucible."  Is God unfair to such a faithful man as Job? He lost his children and all he had, except his wife. Satan was correct when he said that God had set a hedge about Job and everything that was his. "Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand." Job 1:10-12.

Satan charges Job as being selfish in keeping God's law since by doing so, God had blessed him and kept Satan from touching him or what was

Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?

his. God then allows Satan to take whatever he wants, but not to touch Job. Notice the restrictions upon Satan. He cannot go beyond what God allows to happen to Job, and what happens in you life or in mine. But, He will allow tribulation to come, as we see with Job. The question comes to mind, why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? This is a frequently asked question by those who do not know God.  They find it hard to love a God who we say is all loving and is all powerful, and yet bad things happen to "good" people. It is true, bad things even happened to the Son of God. If God is so loving, and He is, and He is all powerful, and He is, then why do little innocent children suffer? Why did God allow Satan to not only take his belongings, but to kill all of his children? And, then allow Satan to hurt Job from the crown of his head to his toes? Is this the actions of an all loving God? You and I say "yes." Then, you and I must explain. God has blessed His church with the answer. It will be a light to lighten the paths of many who do not know the character of our great God.

This quarter's Sabbath School lessons are the best I have experienced since coming into God's church 35 years ago. The subject is one of great importance, for many do not understand why it is that the most weighty trust and the highest honor can bestow upon His people is to make us partakers in the sufferings of Jesus. "Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29. Our daily lessons bring forth Scripture that explains  why it is that God allows us to suffer even when, like Job, we are at that point perfect and hate sin. Maybe like Moses, we are not yet at the point of never sinning again. Or maybe we are like Job, not the point of being able to cling to Jesus when so very sick and tired. Or maybe like Moses and Job when abiding in Christ and hating sin, and fully surrendered to God, He allows the tribulation to come that we might grow in our strength of character. It was through suffering that Jesus grew in strength of character. Jesus came to this dark spot in the universe a helpless baby subject to the weakness of humanity, to fight the battle of life as we must fight it. God allowed His innocent Son to come to a place where Satan claimed dominion. He had hated Jesus in heaven, he hated Him more when he was dethroned, and even more when Christ pledged Himself to redeem us, a race of sinners. What is so very painful to understand is that God allowed this at the risk of losing His innocent Son for eternity. Yes, there was a great risk. Herein is love!
Such love for us when we were yet sinners!!

Not only did Jesus come to dwell among us in the flesh, our flesh, He grew up in Nazareth. Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Why

Temptation, poverty, adversity, is the very discipline needed to develop purity

was this wicked town chosen for His home? "Christ was the only sinless one who ever dwelt on earth; yet for nearly thirty years He lived among the wicked inhabitants of Nazareth. This fact is a rebuke to those who think themselves dependent upon place, fortune, or prosperity, in order to live a blameless life. Temptation, poverty, adversity, is the very discipline needed to develop purity and firmness. Desire of Ages, pg 72.

 

We find that temptation, poverty, and adversity which many find distasteful, is in fact the very discipline needed to develop purity and firmness. Are you enjoying our Sabbath School lessons? If so, then you appreciate the light that is brightly shining from its pages. We are told in Scripture that we glory in our tribulation. We are also told why we are to glory in our tribulation. We may not at first understand what we read, but as we seek to know truth that we might walk in it, the Holy Spirit will make simple that which was not. "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Romans 5:3-5.

 

Let us look closely at these verses as that we might better understand what is being said. "....we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience..." Tribulation is going to make me patient. I understand that when abiding in Christ, I will be patient. When converted from sinner to saint, when I love the Lord our God with all of my heart, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in my heart that He has cleansed whiter than snow. If we can agree on this as being correct theology, then let us come to the hard part of the verse. If I am already patient, then how can going through tribulation make me what I already am, patient? When the Holy Spirit comes into the heart, He brings with Him every one of the fruits of the Spirit, not one is missing. One of them is "long-suffering." Is that not patience? Yes, it is. Then, if I already am long-suffering, why are we reading that tribulation will bring patience?

We need to understand this in light of other truths. Here a little, there a little. Let's go back to the most precious promise God has given to us. He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. 1 Cor. 10:13. Are there any conditions to this promise? Are all in this world not tempted beyond what they can bear? Have you ever sinned? Then you indeed were tempted  beyond what you could bear. Did the promise fail? God's promises never fail. We do not always understand, but if God promises something then it will happen. Why did I sin then if He promised I would not be tempted to the point of sinning? It is a conditional promise. Unbelievers are tempted beyond what they can bear continually. What about those in the church? It is the same condition that exists for those in the church. When we do not abide in Jesus and He in us, then we have no protection against the smallest temptation. We must be fully surrendered to Christ in order to claim this promise. Moses was tempted beyond what he could bear when he struck the rock and manifested pride and anger. His mind was not stayed on Christ.

If we are in agreement with this, then a question remains, if I am abiding in Jesus, then I am already patient. Then what means the verse that

Tribulation worketh patience

tribulation worketh patience? When we are abiding in Jesus, the Spirit gives us patience (long-suffering). There are no more fruits to obtain other than the fruit given at conversion. But, that does not mean there can be no growth. First the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear, perfect at every stage. So it with the character of the truly converted Christian. There will a greater abundance of the existing fruit. That is to say that we may become more patient as we abide in Jesus and are subjected to tribulation like Jesus experienced living in Nazareth. The tribulation He experienced caused the fruit already in His life to become more abundant.

 

Jesus at age eight could not carry the sins of the world. Nor could He at age twelve when He first learned He was the lamb to be sacrificed for the sins of the world. His Father never allowed Him to be tempted beyond what He could bear. As it was with Jesus, so it is with us. When fully surrendered and filled with the Holy Spirit, we will manifest all of the fruits of the Spirit. As we cling to Christ we shall be tempted at a higher set by God. Satan can only go where God allows, and no further. We are not tempted beyond what we can bear. This produces more patience so that we then are able to endure greater trials. It is the life of the Christian. We are to witness the power of grace not only to transform sinners into saints, but to make us stronger in character. God is preparing a people who will go through a time of trouble such as never was. "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." Daniel 12:1.

We know and believe that the time we live in is just before the soon coming of Jesus. We also know that many of the faithful will be laid to rest

He that is holy, let him be holy still

because God will not allow them to be tempted as will the 144,000. We also know that prior to the time of trouble such as never was, the heavenly sanctuary will be cleansed and there will no longer be a Mediator to forgive sin. Therefore, all Christians living at that time will not sin. In other words, God will have a people who will have ceased to sin. What does the Bible say about these at that time? "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:11-12.

Character has been fully developed. Those who have rejected God's love and offer of eternal life can no longer hear that still small voice calling. And, those who love the Lord our God with all of the heart are settled into the truth that they cannot be moved. They know of God's love and character and will not allow anything to separate them from Jesus. They know that they are wholly dependent upon Jesus in order to do any good thing. They want to glorify God more than anything this world can offer. Thus, we return to the subject of our lesson today. It is in the crucible that character is developed. And, as our Sabbath School lessons reveal, we are not in that crucible alone anymore than the three worthies who refused to bow down before King Nebuchadnezzar were alone in the fire. "And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, [and] spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."  Daniel 3:23-25; 

On the cross the Father of Jesus had separated His beams of light and love from His innocent dear Son. The pain Jesus experienced was far from what we will ever experience. And the pain that His Father felt as His Son suffered, was exceeding painful more than we could ever understand. God does not ask us to ever experience the separation that Jesus endured. We may by neglect or by purpose separate from Him who gave all that we might live, but it is never God who separates from us. To the contrary we know by their suffering that they have done all they can to be reconciled with us. That was the agreement made from the foundation of the world, that Jesus would step in-between death and us that we might have time to be reconciled to God. It was not easy for our heavenly Father to say yes to Jesus when He went forth and sought His Father's approval for Him to take upon Himself the sins of the whole world and risk failure and thus eternal separation between Father and Son. Three times Jesus sought His approval before His Father agreed.
 

Learned He obedience by the things which He suffered

Let us close with the one verse that you may have never heard from the pulpit or from what has been printed on our presses, that will encourage us that what we are learning is correct and that our suffering is not needless. "Though he were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered." Hebrews 5:8. The verse is speaking of Jesus. We have the same question with this verse as we had with Romans 5:3. "knowing that tribulation worketh patience." Jesus was always obedient. What meaneth that "He learned obedience"?  It is just like tribulation worketh patience. In Christ we are already patient. So it was with Jesus, He was already obedient. He never sinned. The verse is telling us that through suffering our Savior became more obedient. After suffering great tribulation, He could endure greater tribulation and remain faithful to His Father and His pledge to redeem fallen man. Thus Jesus grew in strength of character until He could take the sins of the whole world upon Himself. It was His faith in His Father that empowered Him to be able to do this.

Amid the awful darkness, apparently forsaken of God, Christ had drained the last dregs in the cup of human woe. In those dreadful hours He had relied upon the evidence of His Father’s acceptance heretofore given Him. He was acquainted with the character of His Father; He understood His justice, His mercy, and His great love. By faith He rested in Him whom it had ever been His joy to obey. And as in submission He committed Himself to God, the sense of the loss of His Father’s favor was withdrawn. By faith, Christ was victor. Desire of Ages, pg 756.

So it may with each of us. We will glory in our tribulation not because it works for our good as we abide in Jesus, but because it will glorify God when His love is shed abroad in our hearts. We love our Lord with all of the heart, because of His love for us. We know His character and we understand that He is love. They proved this beyond anything we could ever want. It is God's love for us that keeps us from sin. It is His grace that has transformed us in such a manner that we do not want to ever hurt Him. Yet, it is left with each of us to spend a thoughtful hour a day that we forget not what God has done for us. For it is by His stripes that we are continually healed. We must turn our eyes upon Jesus and keep them there. And then by the power of an indwelling Spirit we shall bring honor and glory to our God.